The Kenai Central Kardinal’s 2023 football season kicked off Friday night with a dominant 37-0 win against the visiting Kodiak Bears.
The Mid-Alaska Division III rivals took the field for both teams’ first bout of the year, and both looking to bounce back from disappointing ends to their 2022 campaigns. Kenai missed the DIII playoffs following back to back losses to Houston—the eventual state runner-up—and Barrow.
Kodiak suffered a winless season, finishing 2022 0-7 overall, and 0-3 in conference play.
Kenai looked strong from their first play, executing regular motion pre-snap motion from their Pistol Wing-T formation. Led by an offensive display on the part of Junior RB Bobby Hayes, the Kardinals put up all 37 of their points in the first half. Turning the game over to their second string after halftime.
On the defensive side, Kenai looked arguably even stronger. Junior Defensive Tackle, Rohan Hansen was virtually unstoppable, finding his way into the Kodiak backfield time and time again. The only time Kodiak managed notable positive yardage came in the second half following a botched Kenai snap which provided the Bears a short field. They were unable to capitalize however, coming up short courtesy of a Kardinal’s goal line stand on the 1 yard line.
Dellen Byrd, a Junior for the Kardinals, made an eye-popping, one handed grab on a pass in the flat, looking up just in time to throw a single hand in front of himself for a highlight reel catch.
Play was halted for approximately 20 minutes after the first play of the game due to an injury when Kodiak player suffered a broken arm and had to be taken from the field on a stretcher for treatment at the hospital.
The Kardinals make the long trip North this Saturday to seek payback against Barrow, who defeated Kenai Central in the last game of the 2022 regular season, putting Kenai out of playoff contention.
Tune into the Kenai Kardinals this Saturday at Noon on ESPN 1140AM, 96.9FM and radiokenai.com.
*Photo courtesy of Kenai Central High School Kardinal Football Facebook page.
